Deal near on third point guardBy Art Garcia
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The Mavericks are on the verge of filling their third point guard slot by trading for Indiana veteran Anthony Johnson, league sources confirmed Saturday night.
The Mavs are sending free-agent guard Darrell Armstrong and forwards Josh Powell and Rawle Marshall to the Pacers in a deal that has been agreed upon but can't be completed until NBA offices open Monday.
Johnson (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), a 10-year veteran, averaged a career-high 9.2 points and 4.3 assists last season, starting 53 games with the Pacers.
He averaged 20 points and 5.2 assists in six playoff games last season. Johnson, 31, has two years left on his contract for $2.64 million and $2.86 million.
Armstrong joined the Mavs during the 2004-05 season. As a free agent, he's agreed to a new contract to facilitate the sign-and-trade arrangement.
With a third point guard behind Jason Terry and Devin Harris settled, the next priority for the Mavs is adding another swingman or reserve power forward.
The Mavs have approximately $2 million remaining from the mid-level exception, a $1.75 million biennial exception and the ability to use Keith Van Horn in another sign-and-trade.
Among available swingmen, Devean George and Fred Jones could be in the team's price range. Power forward Reggie Evans is another option.
I think this is an excellent trade for Dallas. I really like Anthony Johnson as our backup point guard. He's much better than Armstrong at this stage and the Mavs have obviously decided (after most of summer league) that Powell & Marshall aren't ready to contribute anytime soon. Plus, Johnson has plenty of playoff experience.
if the deal is :
Johnson for Armstrong + Powell + Marshall, Bird is a stupid GM.
Trading a solid and underpaid PG for scrubs is laughable.
And the Spurs couldn't have gotten in on this? Dallas got better and gave up nothing to do it.
What a joke.
I don't know how much better Dallas got. They cleared a couple roster spots if that's what they were looking to do, but not much more.
Anthony Johnson had a great (short) playoffs, but he's not a huge positive. He will probably come to camp out of shape like usual.
Johnson's a better point than Darrell Armstrong. Dallas just got a backup PG capable of dropping a 40 point game on someone, we got Jacque Vaughn.
Johnson is better than Armstrong or Vaughn, but it seems to me that their goal was to clear some roster spots more than anything. He's just their 3rd point guard and probably will see little time.
I think it's a bigger deal than you think. The Mavs don't want Terry to have to play PG anymore but always had to play him there during the playoffs cuz Armstrong has no offensive game anymore. Teams would just lay off him and the Mav offense would suffer. AJ has a decent offensive game and is a decent defender & rebounder. Obviously, he's nothing special (he definitely played over his head in playoffs) but he should solve a big problem that the Mavs had at PG during the playoffs.
Both Terry and Harris definitely could see time at the 2, which Devin did much of last year. This move does help them in my opinion.
Everyone up here in Dallas is saying Terry will slide to the two.
I'm sorry, but there's nothing good about the idea of Anthony Johnson going up against Beno or Jacque Vaughn. Or is Tony going to play all 48?
This move creates another mismatch for Dallas in their favor over us. They gave up nothing to get him, and you can't tell me that the Spurs couldn't have come up with something better than what Dallas gave up.
Hmmm as a Mavs fan I don't know why they need to trade 3 players for 1. Wish they would have kept Marshall.....Powell and DA I could care less about.
Sure they could have. But they wouldn't spend 2-3M for a 3rd string PG. They've obviously decided that Beno is going to be the primary backup, as they only wanted to spend the minimum to get another PG.
What a rape. I'm not an Anthony Johnson fan, but a legit backup point for a guy with a year left max and two never-will-be's is highway robbery.
Mavs need to sign a 6'7" ish swing man. Someone like Devin George would be good.
Why would any Spurfan who witnessed our own trade with Indy think Armstrong will ever wear a Pacer uniform?
Devin has never played a minute at the 2 and I don't see him doing it going forward.
Thank God someone gets it! Mavericks needed someone like A. Johnson for 3 reasons:
1) Depth/ Mismatches
2) Dallas needed someone to be more consistant in the playoffs (PG wise).
3) To light a fire in Devins ass. I hope this tells Harris that he needs to better this coming season.
Marshall might get cut.
Seems odd to include him then. I can only think this is a salary dump for Indiana and Armstong is the guy who will be dumped.
there purpose of this deal for Indy was so that they can complete the Harrington deal
I know what they decided, I'm just saying that Johnson >>> Beno. Add one more matchup we're at a disadvantage at against the Mavs. :/
Why is it necessary for that trade?
Someone needs to tell Larry Bird that just because his former peer Isiah Thomas is a dumbass as far as roster moves goes doesn't mean Larry has to copy him.
Anthony Johnson will only hurt Spurs the day he is on fire.
Parker is too quick for him and I rather see Beno against Johnson than against Terry or Harris.
I rather too see Terry at SG (agaisnt a healthy Manu) than at PG.
how many forwards does indiana have now? granger, powell, o'neal and harrington? something else has to be brewing for them.
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